25 Pictures of Kobe Bryant With Wife Vanessa Bryant Through the Years

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Through the Years

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The legend of Kobe Bryant is a controversial one, both on and off the court. In December of 2011, his wife Vanessa filed for divorce, but she and Kobe both announced the divorce was called off in January of 2013 and they’ve been happily married ever since. Please enjoy these 25 pictures of the couple through the years.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe met then 17-year-old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe was in the same building as Vanessa because he was working on his debut musical album. I do not recommend listening to any of Kobe’s songs. He should definitely not quit his day job.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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The couple began dating and became engaged only sixth months later while Vanessa was still a high school senior.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Vanessa was so inundated by paparazzi while still attending school that she chose to finish high school via independent study.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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According to one of Vanessa’s cousins, there was no prenuptial agreement because Kobe “loved her too much for one.”

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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They married on April 18, 2001 in Dana Point, California.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Neither of Bryant’s parents, nor his two sisters, attended the wedding. They had an issue with Kobe marrying so young and did not approve of Vanessa because she was not African-American.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe’s estrangement from his parents lasted two years and ended once Vanessa gave birth to their first child.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Their first child, a daughter named Natalie Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Sadly, Vanessa suffered a miscarriage in the spring of 2005.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Their second child and second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born on May 1, 2006. Gianna was born just six minutes before Kobe’s former teammate Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter Me’arah Sanaa.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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On December 16, 2011, Vanessa filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. The couple both requested joint custody of their daughters.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Via social media, both Kobe and Vanessa announced on January 11, 2013 that they had called off their divorce.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee in 2003. Bryant was staying at the hotel in Eagle, Colorado in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Bryant admitted to having an adulterous sexual encounter with the woman, but denied the allegation of sexual assault.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Vanessa stood by Kobe’s side and supported her husband throughout the entire process.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe bought his wife a $4 million eight-carat purple diamond “make-up ring” shortly after it had been revealed he had not been faithful.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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The case was dropped in September 2004 after the accuser refused to testify in trial. Kobe apologized to the woman for the incident stating, “…I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did…”

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe’s first tattoo is a crown with Vanessa’s name with two angel wings underneath to symbolize their two daughters.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe’s former teammate Karl Malone once flirted inappropriately with Vanessa. Malone asked for Vanessa to “come sit by him and give him a hug.” Vanessa told Malone’s wife and Kobe, and Kobe reportedly told Malone to stay away from his wife.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Vanessa reportedly does not like Khloe Kardashian at all. Kardashian’s ex-husband is former Laker Lamar Odom. Apparently, Vanessa refused to sit anywhere near Khloe and said she was a “fake wife.”

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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It makes sense that Vanessa wouldn’t fully trust her husband. Vanessa reportedly made sure all female cocktail waitresses were kept out of Kobe’s VIP area at an All-Star party.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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The couple started the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation – a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Vanessa was once sued by one of her maids. To make the “wrongful discharge” lawsuit go away, the Bryants paid the maid a $200,000 settlement.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Vanessa tends to stay away from the limelight. In a rare interview, she explained, “Now I realize I do have to talk about certain things. Still, I don’t like the limelight. There’s a lot of good you can do with fame, like creating awareness for a foundation, but a lot of negativity comes along with it.